Klenti, 18 year old Albanian rides a wave of confidence at World Pool Series in New York

Generational battles will be on full display on Saturday in New York City as the RYO Rack Classic Championship, the third leg of the World Pool Series, comes down to its final day.

One semi-final, which has been slated for the Unilad TV table, will feature 18 year old Albania phenom Klenti Kaci squaring off against 24 year old American, Skyler Woodward. In the other semi-final, 37 year old veteran Polish campaigner Radislaw Babica will match wits against multi-world champion and soon to be Hall of Famer, 40 year old Darren Appleton.

Amazingly the favorite among this supremely talented group of four falls to the kid barely out of high school, Klenti Kaci. Kaci is, in essence, the defending champion here at the World Pool Series, having surprisingly won the last event in April, the Aramith Masters. Since then, the tall, good looking youngster has stayed in the States honing his game in tournaments and money games, and spending countless hours a day practicing all facets of his game.

Kaci’s incredible skills and confidence have been on full display since the tournament began on Wednesday as he hasn’t even been touched or threatened. On Friday the Albanian first came up against England’s Chris Melling in the round of 16. Melling was still buzzing from the worldwide sensation he caused with his jaw dropping clearance against Mika Immonen the night before. But none of that phased Kaci. He took the first set, while Melling grabbed the second frame. It was then that the Albanian turned up the heat as he raced to a 6-2 win in the third to take the match.

Kaci then headed to the TV table for a much anticipated showdown with Austria’s Mario He. The confident He, who had recently captured the prestigious World Cup of Pool and is currently ranked number 2 in Europe, had just eliminated New York’s Tony Robles in two sets to stay unbeaten in the event. The pair stayed close throughout a tense first set, but Kaci preserved to go up 1-0. Then, as he has done all week when it counts the most, the Albanian grabbed the iron while it was hot, and handily won the second set to advance to the semi-finals.